Occupational Safety Management MS

Students are admitted into one of three Areas based upon their education and work experience at the time of application. Students must specify which Area they are seeking admission into. Once admitted into an Area, students may not change Areas without applying for a change of degree program through the Graduate School and being approved by Safety Sciences.

All Applicants must meet the following admissions requirement:

Possession of a bachelor’s degree from a Regionally Accredited University with a GPA of 2.5 or higher

Additional requirements by Area are as follows (only need to meet the requirements of the Area applying for and admitted into):

• Professional Certification Area – Admission into this Area requires current possession of any of the following designations or certifications in good standing: Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), or Certified Safety Professional (CSP).
• Work Experience Area – A minimum of 1 year of full time work experience with at least 50% job duties related to safety. Work experience must be documented from one of the following:
  1. Eligibility to sit for the ASP exam – eligibility letter from BCSP must be submitted with application to the program. OR
  2. Possession of current certification in good standing of any of the following certifications through the BCSP:
     1. Safety Management Specialist (SMS)
     2. Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST)
     3. Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
     4. Safety Trained Supervisor (STS)
     5. Safety Trained Supervisor Construction (STSC)
• Foundation Area – 
  • One semester each of chemistry, physics, college algebra, and statistics.
  • Foundation Area applicants must submit a 3-5 page essay that demonstrates writing skills. Essay should describe the applicant’s work experiences, describe why they are seeking the MS OSM, and how it relates to their future career goals. Applicants will not be admitted without the essay.
  • Note: the Foundation Concentration requires two courses that cannot be taken online (SAFE 4010 and SAFE 4140). These courses are offered on the main UCM Campus. Students must complete SAFE 4010, SAFE 4140, SAFE 4425, and SAFE 5000 before enrolling in any additional 5000 or 6000 level courses.

Complete your application and be sure to provide the School of Graduate & Extended Studies with official transcripts.

Those transcripts can be sent to:

University of Central Missouri
School of Graduate & Extended Studies
Ward Edwards Room 1800
Warrensburg, MO 64093

If you have any questions about applying, contact the School of Graduate & Extended Studies at 877-729- 8266, ext. 3.

UCM publishes a Fact Book with enrollment information and graduation data for the University and individual programs.

 At the time of graduation, the student with a Master of Science degree in Occupational Safety Management will be able to:  

1. anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and develop control strategies for hazardous conditions and work practices;
2. demonstrate the application of business and risk management concepts;
3. demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental aspects of safety, industrial hygiene, environmental science, fire science, hazardous materials, emergency management, ergonomics, and/or human factors;
4. design and evaluate safety, health, and/or environmental programs;
5. apply adult learning theory to safety training methodology;
6. identify and apply appropriate standards, regulations, and codes;
7. conduct accident investigations and analyses;
8. apply principles of safety and health in a non-academic setting through an internship, cooperative, or supervised experience.

The graduate with a Master of Science degree in Occupational Safety Management will use the knowledge and skills obtained in the programs to:

• Demonstrate the ability to communicate professionally, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrate knowledge of professional integrity and ethical standards.
• Recognize the importance of contemporary global and societal issues as they relate to the practice of occupational safety and health.
• Develop, coordinate, and/or participate on multidisciplinary teams to protect people, property, and the environment.
• Recognize the importance of life-long learning for the purpose of enhancing discipline-specific technical competencies.
• Analyze injury, illness, and liability trends to help establish priority direction.
• Organize limited resources for optimum risk control.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate hazard control processes for a performance safety program.